Why are women slut shamed and men praised?

About 90 years ago, the women’s suffrage law was passed. Since then, women have fought a long battle to be regarded as more than just housewives, people who were made just to serve their husbands. We have come a very long way, but women often still find themselves regarded as the lesser gender.

We live in an era where sex is accepted as a natural thing that doesn’t only have to happen between a husband and wife. Being sexy is a good thing (for both men and women). But how come we can be so accepting of sexiness, but when a woman actually wants to be sexual, she is called a slut?

When it comes to sexuality, it is no secret that women and men are treated differently. Men are often praised for sleeping around while women are shamed for it.

In February, Amber Rose was criticized by Rev Run and Tyrese on their show, It’s Not You, It’s Men, suggesting that the way she dresses invites men to assault her. The quotes below were taken from an article on People.com on the issue:

Rev Run responded by suggesting to Rose that maybe “a representation of what you’re wearing and stuff and seems like, in their mind, what you’re representing.”

Tyrese shared his point of view saying, “I’m just saying, the comfortability some people find in wanting to touch or grope you. It’s an energy that is sent out there that creates that type of response.”

I have to be honest, I knew that there were still some people who think women “ask” to be sexually assaulted, but I could not believe these two men in particular would think that and even more, would go on TV and say it like it was nothing.

This week only proved more that women and men are not even close to being equal when it comes to sex.

Twenty-year-old singer Kehlani, who was dating Cleveland Cavaliers player Kyrie Irving, was the subject of debate when her ex-boyfriend, rapper PartyNextDoor, reportedly posted an Instagram photo of the two in bed together. Whether it was an old photo or actually new, or whether Kehlani had broken up with Irving prior to the photo being posted, I don’t know nor do I really care. The reason I bring it up is because the reaction that I saw on social media was that of slut shaming the woman. One tweet even said, “Hoes will be hoes.” When the singer attempted suicide after the fallout, Chris Brown took to Twitter to call out the woman, saying that she didn’t actually attempt suicide, but suggested it was a ploy to gain sympathy.

Around the same time, a video of LA Lakers player Nick Young, who is engaged to singer Iggy Azalea, was released by his teammate, D’Angelo Russell. In the video, Young can be heard talking about cheating on his fiancé. If people were to follow what they said about Kehlani, it should be Young who is criticized; however, social media attacked Russell, condemning him for calling out his teammate. People are commenting rat and snake emojis on his Instagram photos and according to ESPN, The Lakers are “isolating” the rookie for releasing the video. But where is the slut shaming of Young for cheating on his soon-to-be wife?

I do not agree with cheating. Whether you’re a man or woman, I think you should just break up with your significant other if you want to be free to hook up with other people. I also do not agree with secretly taking photos and videos of anyone and releasing them without their knowledge. However, the double standard seen here is completely ridiculous and only proves that women still have a long way to go in regards to being treated as equals.

Women are not sluts for wanting to do the same thing men are praised for and it’s time that everyone accepts that.